The opera “The Maid Turned Mistress” (La Serva Padrona) by G. B. Pergolesi has extremely good stage luck. When a twenty three year old composer from Naples

created intermezzo to his opera seria “The Proud Prisoner” (Il prigionier superbo) – two comic compositions that are performed between acts of a larger musical work – he certainly did not know that the intermezzo “The Maid Turned Mistress” would outshine all his compositions and would bring him great success and fame of a founder of a new genre, Italian opera buffa. “The Maid Turned Mistress” has won popularity not only in Italy. After it was translated into French, the opera had more than 200 performances in Paris (1752). “The Maid Turned Mistress” charmed Europe.

SYNOPSIS

Intermezzo 1

Dressing room

Uberto, an elderly bachelor, is angry and impatient with his maidservant, Serpina, because she has not brought him his chocolate today. Serpina has become so arrogant that she thinks she is the mistress of the household. Indeed, when Uberto calls for his hat, wig and coat, Serpina forbids him from leaving the house, adding that from then on he will have to obey her orders. Uberto thereupon orders Vespone to find him a woman to marry so that he can rid himself of Serpina.

Intermezzo 2

Same dressing room

Serpina convinces Vespone to trick Uberto into marrying her. She informs Uberto that she is to marry a military man named Tempesta. She will be leaving his home and apologizes for her behavior. Vespone, disguised as Tempesta, arrives and, without saying a word, demands 4,000 crowns for a dowry. Uberto refuses to pay such a sum. Tempesta threatens him to either pay the dowry or marry the girl himself. Uberto agrees to marry Serpina. Serpina and Vespone reveal their trick; but Uberto realizes that he has loved the girl all along. They will marry after all; and Serpina will now be the true mistress of the household.